Do I Need to Send Most of my AP Exam Scores

At my school we can’t take any AP classes at all freshman year, one (maybe two if you’ve skipped two levels in english) sophomore year, and three junior year, and at this point I’ve taken four total and plan on taking five more next year. We also only have 5 classes a year, so it’s hard to actually fit in AP classes to make my transcript look more impressive.

My question is: I’m only taking two AP exams this year, and I already feel like I lack because only three AP exams to send in with my applications feels so low. I did get a 5 last year, but I don’t feel great about AP Biology either. Does the number of AP exam score I send in actually matter in college admissions, or do admission officers focus more on the amount of AP classes you’re taking rather than the amount of AP exams you took. My parents couldn’t handle paying for a third AP exam this year, and I’m pretty sure I’ll only be sending in two exam scores even though I’ll be taking nine AP classes throughout high school.

Colleges do not care how many scores you send though they like to see AP courses with good grades on your transcript. You won’t be penalized for the restrictions of your high school. If you have a good score, send it. They do not really factor AP test scores into decisions, for exactly the reasons you mentioned. Good ones are a bonus though. And see if you can get a fee waiver to pay for the test, if you want to take it.